How To Fillet Fish

Welcome to our complete and simple guide for filleting fish, equipped with easy to follow step-by-step instructions along with pictures to illustrate the process. We've also included a video to provide you with a visual.

You'll see tips and strategies about applying the basic filleting method for most fish, skinning fillets, and suggestions for smaller ones.

First, here are a couple important tips to help make your job much easier:

Begin with a clean working surface. Perhaps even have a couple of clean hand towels handy.

It's best to use a fillet knife that has a sharp and flexible blade, in which the length of the blade also fits accordingly for the fish. The
Victorinox Fillet Knife Kit is a nice set to get slicing with.

Basic Method To Fillet A Fish

Let's get started:

Behind the pectoral fin, cut through to the backbone.

Turn the blade parallel to the backbone and cut towards the tail. (When
doing this, try not to cut too deeply as to puncture the belly cavity.
This will just make the job a bit messier.)

Then cut off the rib bones.

Turn the fish over and repeat for the second fillet. Then cut
off the strips of fatty belly flesh.

4 Easy Steps With Illustrated Instructions For Filleting Fish

Skinning The Fillet

You don't need or want the skin on your fish fillets? Well, then let's get rid of it.

Be sure that the skin side is down on the bottom resting on the table or cutting board.

Start by cutting
into the tail end flesh to the skin.

While
holding the end of the skin firmly, run your knife through and away from you, moving the blade to slice along the skin to separate the meat.

How To Fillet And Clean Panfish

Smaller fish such as perch, crappie and bluegill are generally too small to fillet for the less experienced. Smaller fish obviously contain less meat. And if somebody isn't careful and efficient with preparing any kinds of fish at all, it can become a little bit of a concern when it comes time to eat.

When filleting panfish, take the same approach as you normally would. Just be aware of how close the meat will be to the bones. Depending on how you plan on cooking and eating the fillets, I would consider leaving the skin on. The skin provides extra flavor. And you don't risk losing as much meat from skinning the filet. Ultimately, it's what you desire.

Many people believe that it's more ideal to pan dress smaller fish instead. Either way, both methods
are quite easy once you get the hang of practicing with a few panfish.

Videos About Filleting Fish

This video below shows how to fillet a striped bass. Which is basically the same method used for filleting just about any other type of fish.

By the way, in the video he refers to the striper as a "rockfish." Rockfish are sometimes
referred to striped bass, rock salmon, sebastidae, the New Zealand
rockfish, or stonefish. I just thought I would point that out to save any confusion, and to help clarify what kind of fish is featured in the segment.

Do you think that you what it takes to yield that knife around? Great! This is what they should look like.

Prepared Fish Fillets Ready To Be Cooked

Now it's time to throw those bad boys over a flame so we can get down to the real business of things and get our grub on!